Terminal connector for batteries



June 14, 1966 w. HERRMANN TERMINAL CONNECTOR FOR BATTERIES Filed March 13, 1964 FIG. 3

40 W/V/ZW wagimlflnw lIIIHHHHHHIlllil\\\\\\\\\\\g? 9 mmraneys United States Patent 3,256,511 TERMINAL CONNECTOR FOR BATTERIES Willi Herrmann, 23 Strombergstrasse, Ludwigsburg, Wurttemherg, Germany Filed Mar. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 351,633 4 Claims. (Cl. 339-228) The present invention relates to a terminal connector for batteries which is essentially composed of a slotted connecting piece and of an extension serving for the fastening of cable, whereby the connecting piece consisting of lead or of a lead alloy is held or secured at a battery terminal by means of a clamping device.

With the known constructions of the prior art the connecting piece made of lead is provided with mutually offset grooves, cuts or notches which impart to the connecting piece a certain additional elasticity Upon emplacement of the connecting piece over the battery terminal the connecting piece is thereby held fast or secured by its inherent clamping force. However, no consideration was given with such prior art arrangements to the fact that a lead as material is relatively soft. The securing at the battery terminal may well be achieved with such prior art devices under certain circumstances during the first emplacement or assembly of the connecting piece. A reuse thereof, however, is not possible, for the connecting piece has in the meantime become enlarged to the diameter of the terminal.

The task underlying the present invention essentially consists in producing a clamp-type connector for battery terminals which is simple in manufacture, therefore relatively inexpensive and for whose installation and assembly no special tools are necessary. Furthermore, the entire connector assembly is to be so constructed that no danger of corrosion exists and that the clamp-type connector may be utilized as frequently as desired.

This is achieved in accordance with the present invention in that the clamping device is constituted by a terminal cap made of synthetic plastic material. By reason of such a construction, a safe and secure abutment of the connecting piece at the battery terminal is realized since a relatively large working surface is present between the connecting piece and clamping device in the form of a terminal cap. Furthermore, the specific surface load of the connecting piece consisting of lead or of a lead alloy is slight as a result thereof so that damage to the outer surface thereof is avoided. In order to improve the cooperation of the terminal cap with connecting piece for the purpose of securing the latter at the battery terminal, the outer circumference of the connecting piece and the inner surfaces of the terminal cap consisting of plastic material are constructed conically. The cone angle of the cooperating surfaces amounts thereby essentially to 1.5". The connecting piece is made of a harder alloy than the battery terminal. Preferably the connecting piece consists of a lead-antimony alloy with an antimony content of about 8%. In order to assure the fastening of the connecting piece at the battery terminal, a vertical grooving or corrugation is provided along the inner surfaces of the connection piece. An unintentional rotation or twisting of the connecting piece is prevented thereby which possibly might otherwise have as a consequence the loosening of the connection. Additionally, the contact surface is increased since the grooving or corrugation of the harder connecting piece becomes embossed in the softer battery terminal.

The terminal cap made of synthetic plastic material and having a certain inherent elasticity is provided at the free end thereof with a reinforcement, for example, with an annular bead. However, it is also possible to equip the terminal cap with a spring aiding the clamping effect thereof. To protect the spring against corrosion the Patented June 14, 1966 spring is accommodated within the terminal cap. The terminal cap is provided for that purpose with an annular recess extending essentially parallel to the working surfaces thereof.

As material for the terminal cap is suited preferably a plastic polymerization material, for example, polypropylene. For purposes of better recognition of the terminal cap, the latter consists of dyed or colored plastic material. It is thereby advantageous that the terminal cap be made of a plastic material having a certain coloration corresponding to the use thereof as positive or negative battery terminal.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cable clamp-type connector for batteries which is simple in construction, reliable in operation and effective for its intended purposes and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, and which at the same time avoids the shortcomings and drawbacks encountered with the prior art constructions.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a terminal connector for a battery which permits frequent reuse thereof without impairing the clamping capability thereof.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a clamp-type cable connector for batteries which eliminates the danger of corrosion without impairing the reusability of the clamp.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a clamp-type cable connector for battery terminals which assures good contact between the terminal and the cable by producing large working surfaces, reduces the specific surface load yet assures a safe clamping and securing of the cable to the terminal without danger of inadvertent accidental loosening thereof.

Still a further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a cap for a cable connector usable with battery terminals made at least in part of noncorrosive material which permits ready differentiation between the terminals of opposite polarities.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, for purposes of illustration only, one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the parts of a clamp-type terminal connector in accordance with the present invention, and

FIGURE 2 is a partial elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of a battery having a battery terminal and including a terminal connector, partly in cross section, in accordance with the present invention and installed over the battery terminal.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the two views to designate like parts, the battery 1 includes a terminal 2 which serves for the connection of the electric cable with the battery. This connection is established by means of a clamp-type connector assembly generally designated by reference numeral 3. The connector assembly 3 essentially consists of a connecting piece 4 having an extension 5 as well as of a terminal cap 6 which cooperates with the connecting piece 4.

The connecting piece 4 and the extension 5 are made of a lead-antimony alloy with a content in antimony of about 8%. Compared to the material of the battery terminal 2 which is also made in the usual manner of a leadantimony alloy, however, with an antimony content of about 4%, the material of the connecting piece 4 is thus harder than that of the battery terminal 2. As a result thereof, the cooperation of the parts is favored. The

any other conventional construction.

connecting piece 4 is provided with slots 7 and 8 disposed diametrically in the longitudinal center plane of the connector 3 and extending over the entire height of the connecting piece 4. The inner surfaces 9 of the connecting piece 4 are matched to the shape of the battery terminal 1 and are constructed correspondingly conically. The inner surface 9 is provided with a grooving or corrugation 10 which extends vertically over the entire height of the inner surface 9.

The extension 5 is made in one piece with the connecting piece 4 and possesses a bore 11 disposed in the longitudinal center plane of the connector. This bore 11 serves for the accommodation of a cable 12 whereby only the bare end of the copper strand or cable 13 is introduced into the bore 11 and the insulation 14 terminates at the end of the bore 11. However, it is also feasible and possibly also advantageous to enlarge the end of the bore 11 by a corresponding tapering so that the insulation 14 of the cable 12 can be pressed partly into the extension 5. The securing and fastening of the cable 12 in the extension 5 takes place by a simple compression thereof, for example, in the vertical direction. However, the cable 12 may also be detachably secured at the extension 5 by any well-known means and may consist, for example, of a clamp-type connection with a conical sleeve or of A further advantageous connection is achieved if the copper cable 12, after prior tining thereof, is soldered to the connecting piece 4. However, it is understood that the securing of the cable 12 at the extension 5 may be realized in any known suitable manner.

The terminal cap 6 is made of a material that is insensitive to heat and cold as well as resistant to acid. It has been discovered that plastic polymerization products such as polypropylene are particularly suited therefor. The terminal cap is provided at the free end thereof with a bead 15 for the reinforcement thereof. The inner surface 16 of the terminal cap 6 is constructed conically. The cone angle is thereby about 15 and is thus considerably smaller than the cone angle of the terminal or asso ciated surface of the connecting piece. The outer surface 17 of the connecting piece 4 is constructed complementarily to the inner surface 16 of the terminal cap 6.

In order to enable also the use of less expensive plastic materials for the manufacture of the terminal cap 6 which possibly possesses a smaller inherent elasticity, there exists according to a further feature of the present invention the possibility to provide the terminal cap 6 with an additional spring, for example, with spiral spring 18. For that purpose, a ring-shaped recess 19 is provided in the terminal cap 6 which is advantageously realized simultaneously with the molding or extruding. The spiral spring 18 is forced, in a prestressed condition, into this recess 19, and more particularly in such a manner that it is effective radially inwardly. The aperture of the recess 19 is subsequently closed by means of a filling body 20 whereby the penetration of moisture and especially of acid vapors into the recess 19 is prevented.

For purposes of connecting the cable 12, at first the connecting piece 4 is placed over the battery terminal 2 and the terminal cap 6 is thereafter pressed upon the connecting piece 4, whereby the manually applied pressure force may be sufficient in order to achieve a secure seating of the connecting piece 4 at the terminal 2. The cooperating surfaces 17 and 16 of the connecting piece 4 and of the terminal cap 6 are relatively large so that the wear is relatively slight. This is compensated by the elasticity of the terminal cap 6 made of plastic material. The length-of-life of the connector is thereby considerably increased.

For purposes of better recognition the terminal cap 6 is made of a dyed or colored plastic material whereby the terminal caps of the connector have different colors for the positive and negative poles of the battery.

For removing the connector from the terminal of the battery, the terminal cap 6 is slightly rotated and removed. Thereafter the connecting piece 4 can be lifted off the terminal 2. The assembly and disassembly is thus realizable in a simple and rapid manner, and more particularly within a span of time that amounts to only a fraction of the time used heretofore with the prior art constructions.

While I have shown and described one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto, but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known to a person skilled in the art, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein, but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A connector asembly for batteries having terminals, comprising:

a connector structure including a slotted connecting piece and an extension serving for the fastening of the cable,

said connector piece being made of a deformable material selected from the group consisting of lead and lead alloys,

and clam-ping means for securing the connector piece with the battery terminal including terminal cap means made of plastic material having an inherent elasticity,

the outer circumference of the connecting piece and the internal surfaces of the cap means being constructed essentially conically with the cone angle amounting to about 15,

the material of said connecting piece being an alloy that is harder than the material of the battery ter- :minal and essentially consisting of a lead-antimony alloy with an antimony content of about 8%,

the inner surfaces of said connecting piece being provided with approximately vertical groove means,

said cap means being provided along the free end thereof with a reinforcement in the form of a bead,

and spring means in a pre-stressed condition for assisting the clamping effect of said cap means,

said cap means being provided with an annular recess extending essentially parallelly to the working surfaces thereof, said spring means being located within the annular recess in said cap means,

and said cap means being made of a plastic polymerization material selected from the group of polypropylenes.

2. connector assembly for batteries having terminals,

comprising:

a connector structure including a slotted connecting piece and an extension serving for the fastening of the cable,

said connector piece being made of a deformable material,

and clamping means for securing the connector piece with the battery terminal including terminal cap means made of plastic material having an inherent elasticity,

thematerial of said connecting piece being an alloy that is harder than the material of the battery terminal and essentially consisting of a lead-antimony alloy with an antimony content of about 8%,

the inner surfaces of said connecting piece being provided with approximately vertical groove means,

and spring means in pre-stressed condition for assisting the clamping effect thereof,

said cap means being provided with an annular recess extending essentially parallelly to the working surfaces thereof, said spring means being located wit-hin the annular recess in said cap means,

3. A connector assembly for batteries having terminals,

comprising:

a connector structure including a slotted connecting piece and an extension serving for the fastening of the cable,

said connector piece being made of a deformable material selected from the group consisting of lead and lead alloys,

and clamping means for securing the connector piece with the battery terminal including terminal cap means made of plastic material having an inherent elasticity,

the inner surfaces of said connecting piece being provided with approximately vertical groove means,

said cap means being provided along the free end thereof with a reinforcement in the form of a bead,

and spring means in a .pre-stressed condition for assisting the clamping effect of said cap means,

said cap means being provided with an annular recess extending essentially parallelly to the working surfaces thereof, said spring means being located within the annular recess in said cap means.

4. A connector assembly for batteries having terminals,

comprising a connector structure including a slotted connecting piece and an extension serving for the fastening of the cable,

clamping means for securing the connector piece with the battery terminal including terminal cap means made of plastic material having an inherent elasticity,

said cap means being provided along the free end thereof with a reinforcement,

said cap means being providedwith an annular recess extending essentially parallelly to the working surfaces thereof,

-and spring means in a pre-stressed condition for assisting the clamping effect of said cap means, said spring means being located within said annular recess in said cap means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 839,260 12/1906 Benson 33961 1,292,247 1/1919 Busch 339 229 1,859,545 5/1932 Wallenber-g et a1. 339-229 2,231,310 2/1941 Williams -1- 339 232 X 2,962,689 11/1960 Iohnsonetal 339-227X FOREIGN PATENTS 681,702 '9/1939 Germany. 713,800 8/1954 Great Britain.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

W. DONALD MILLER, Examiner. 

4. A CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR BATTERIES HAVING TERMINALS, COMPRISING: A CONNECTOR STRUCTURE INCLUDING A SLOTTED CONNECTING PIECE AND AN EXTENSION SERVING FOR THE FASTENING OF THE CABLE, CLAMPING MEANS FOR SECURING THE CONNECTOR PIECE WTIH THE BATTERY TERMINAL INCLUDING TERMINAL CAP MEANS MADE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING AN INHERENT ELASTICITY, SAID CAP MEANS BEING PROVIDED ALONG THE FREE END THEREOF WITH A REINFORCEMENT, SAID CAP MEANS BEING PROVIDED WITH AN ANNULAR RECESS EXTENDING ESSENTIALLY PARALLELY TO THE WORKING SURFACES THEREOF, AND SPRING MEANS IN A PRE-STRESSED CONDITION FOR ASSISTING THE CLAMPING EFFECT OF SAID CAP MEANS, SAID SPRING MEANS BEING LOCATED WITHIN SAID ANNULAR RECESS IN SAID CAP MEANS. 